Sahara Desert Overview

Key Characteristics

• The Sahara is the largest hot desert on Earth.
• Deserts are defined by low precipitation, not temperature or terrain.
  • Typically receive less than 10 inches of precipitation per year.
• Sahara's size:
  • Roughly 3,500 miles long and 2,000 miles wide.
  • Can fit the entire U.S. or China within its bounds.

Climate and Geography

• The Sahara has extreme temperatures (90-110°F in summer).
• Most of the Sahara is rocky, with some areas of sand dunes (ergs).
• Divides Africa climatically and culturally.
  • North: Mediterranean climate around Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
  • South: Sahel region, a tropical short grassland.

Cultural and Historical Significance

• Historically, the Berber people are native to the region.
• Arabs spread Islam across North Africa in the 7th and 8th centuries.
  • Berbers became Islamicized but maintained their own culture and language.
• The Sahara acted as a divider between Arab North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • North Africa: Mostly Islamic and Arabized.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa: Largely non-Arab and Christian.

Historical Trade Routes

• Once vibrant trade routes crossed the Sahara, connecting North and Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Caravans transported gold, salt, and exotic goods.
• Cities like Timbuktu were major trading hubs.
• Trade reduced with European coastal exploration.

Modern Political and Economic Context

• Sparse population makes it difficult to govern.
• The desert serves as a haven for rebel and extremist groups.
  • Terrorist groups and rebel factions use the desert for training and operations.
  • Western Sahara is a transit point for drug trafficking.
• U.S. and other nations have strategic interest in the Sahara's fringes.
  • Establishing covert bases to monitor and counter extremist activities.

Conclusion

• The Sahara remains a culturally and geographically significant region.
• Though marginalized in modern trade, it remains strategically important due to its vast, sparsely inhabited landscape.